How can I have been saying it for two years? No-one knew who Palin was 2 years ago. I haven't even been saying it for 2 days, not until this thread. I don't expect any of you on the left to agree with it, but I'll say what I think again.
Palin would be very vulnerable as a candidate. I don't think she will be a candidate for anything. But she has a huge following and is tied with Hillary as the most respected woman in America. She relates well to people and she draws huge crowds. Let's be honest - both parties look for front people who serve as attack dogs and can really whip up their bases. Palin is going to be perfect in that role. She won't have to do trap interviews with Katie Couric and she will be hard to attack since she will hold no position. And when she is attacked, the risk is being run that that will alienate women swing voters.
Now if any of you want to believe the dem party is not aware of this and that they would much rather NOT have her in that role, go ahead. I'm not going to debate that point, wait and see. I believe Palin is going to be a formidable weapon who is being positioned and aimed as we speak. If she were an insignificant nobody with no potential to strike political blows, she would be ignored.
By the way, forthcoming dems I know in the real world agree. They would never say they "fear" her, but they agree she will be a force and more dangerous as a non-candidate. Whether and how well she can be countered remains to be seen, but I don't see how anyone with any political savvy can deny that she will be a forceful player.